So, we're a month through 2009 already

I can't believe we're less than an hour away from February 2009! So far the year has been pretty disastrous for the UK's economy, I think my upcoming US trip is going to finally get me banged up in the poor house - damn that exchange rate! But anyway - there have been a few delights in the trashy entertainment world to keep us, well me, entertained.



2009 has quickly established itself as the year La Toya Jackson went mainstream. Not only did the one time Grammy nominee and Greatest Playboy Centrefold of all time show up on Celebrity Big Brother, but she's also appeared on a few shows since and has an autobiography, and a reality show on E! or VH1 in the pipeline! Go Toy Toy! Toy soldiers across the world (all 10 of us) are wet with anticipation over what could be her most successful year ever! Although it has been 6 years since she showed u on Larry King Live at started this comeback, so it's about time!
Lady GaGa has provided the first decent number one the UK has had in years. I first heard her Just Dance in Chicago while I was on holiday and I thought rocked, it was played in between Kylie videos and selections from Hairspray, I was in seventh heaven... A zillion plays later, I could take a break from it, but GaGa's style over substance image is right up my alley. She was great on the Sunday Night Project a few weeks ago - good on her for singing live I say!

My Bloody Valentine 3D showed that while the horror genre may be completely bankrupt of any kind of originality in 2009, going old school really paid off at the box office and hopefully kick started a 3D comeback. I wish the Friday the 13th remake out next month was in 3D, I'd love Jason to come out of the screen and headbutt me with his hockey mask! Now that's what I call entertainment.

LaBelle's brilliant new single, Superlover, will keep me going into February, as will the miserable news and current affairs shows, and a lot of cheap wine (courtesy of the credit crunch). In other good news Dynasty is coming to DVD in the UK very soon - perhaps that will cheer everyone up as they soak up the opulence and fur-tastic delights of Alexis and Krystle all over again....

Dynasty: The Making of a Guilty Pleasure, 2005

CAST: Pamela Reed (Esther Shapiro) – Reed has been a popular supporting actress for over 25 years. She can be seen in such movies as Junior and Proof of Life. Most recently she has had a recurring role on the TV series Jericho.

Bartholomew John (John Forsythe) – Popular New Zealand based actor.

Melora Hardin (Linda Evans) – Recently starred in the US version of The Office, as Jan.

and Alice Krige (as Joan Collins) – South Africa born actress, perhaps best known for her role in Star Trek: First Contact as the Borg Queen. Krige has worked extensively since the early 80’s.

PLOT: This made for TV movie chronicles the conception and production of Dynasty, of one of the biggest drams series’ of all time. It covers the shows’ full run right up to the wrap of the reunion movie in the early 90’s.

No sex, no violence, if 'bitch' is still counted then there's a bit of language. PG/TV-14 (at a guess).

THOUGHTS: Being a fan of the show I guess I’m partial to the glossy and playful tone of this ‘biopic’ of one of TV’s most successful shows. From the outset the makers are honest with us about this being an unapologetic dramatisation of the making of one of the most overly dramatic shows ever made. I’ve read that the movie was condemned by all three leads from the show (John Forsythe, Linda Evans and Joan Collins). I think the question that they should’ve asked themselves is whether Dynasty fans really wanted a no-holds-barred expose or a glossy tele-movie, my guess is the latter! Who cares about historical accuracy when you have great sets, great hair and nine years of drama to cram into 90 minutes!

Alice Krige was excellent as Joan Collins, in fact the whole cast did a good job. However, I thought the portrayal of Linda Evans as some kind of dozy starlet was pretty mean, but highly entertaining. I also liked the way the focus was more on the producers Esther and Richard Shapiro and their vision for the show. One particularly noticeable omission is the lack of 80’s attire, surely actors in 1981 would be wearing the clothes of the time. These people look like they’ve just steeped out of a 2005 department store. Also, the budget didn’t quite stretch to the fabulous frocks from the real Dynasty. Rarely an episode went by when either Joan Collins or Linda Evans were draped in a dead animal or two. On the whole, though, this is excellent entertainment, no doubt far from removed from the reality of the real Dynasty set, but like the great show itself – 100% pure fun.

CAN I BUY IT? Yes, Region 4.